The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
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WINTER CHALLENGE 2019
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Completed Tasks: PLEASE DO NOT DELETE ANY POST IN THIS THREAD

30.1 - Ava Catherine’s Task: Celebrating Louise Erdrich
Option 1:
Read a book with mpg historical fiction, mpg sociology, or mpg race (or racism).
The Broken Girls by Simone St. James
'Historical Fiction' genre is #2 on the main book page.
Option 3:
Read a book by a single author whose first and last name initials can be found in BIRCHBARK.
Recursion by Blake Crouch
The author's initials BC can be found in BIRCHBARK.
Points this post: 30
Total points to date: 205
Dlmrose
5.9. The Neustadt International Prize for Literature.
TIOL in InTernatiOnaL- The Improbability of Love by Hannah Mary Rothschild
total = 515
5.9. The Neustadt International Prize for Literature.
TIOL in InTernatiOnaL- The Improbability of Love by Hannah Mary Rothschild
total = 515
Dlmrose
10.2 - Comfort Food
Food and Drink genre: We Fed an Island: The True Story of Rebuilding Puerto Rico, One Meal at a Time by José Andrés
total = 525
10.2 - Comfort Food
Food and Drink genre: We Fed an Island: The True Story of Rebuilding Puerto Rico, One Meal at a Time by José Andrés
total = 525
Dlmrose
20.1 - Most Improved - Librarianish's Task: Beating the Winter Blues
Option 2, #3: The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter by Margareta Magnusson
total = 545
20.1 - Most Improved - Librarianish's Task: Beating the Winter Blues
Option 2, #3: The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter by Margareta Magnusson
total = 545
Dlmrose
25.2 - Mazza1's Task: Discussions with Santa
Option 3,
book 1, MN initial: When the Ground Is Hard by Malla Nunn, 256 pages
book 2, water in title: The Secret Knowledge of Water by Craig Childs, 304 pages
256 + 304 = 560
total = 570
25.2 - Mazza1's Task: Discussions with Santa
Option 3,
book 1, MN initial: When the Ground Is Hard by Malla Nunn, 256 pages
book 2, water in title: The Secret Knowledge of Water by Craig Childs, 304 pages
256 + 304 = 560
total = 570

25.1 Andy P’s Task: Learning the Alphabet
Book 1. Read a book which does NOT contain an M or an N in the title or subtitle.
Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor, Steven Moffat
Read the kindle edition. PB link here (232pg)
Book 2. Option 1: Read a book in which the author’s name contains both an M and an N
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, carsoN Mccullers
Read the kindle edition. Top MMPB (French): here (445pg)
Top MMPB (English): here (307pg)
Option 1 N & M in the author’s name
(Also Option 2: LO in LOnely)
Golden Oldie: First published in 1940
Total pages: 232 + 445 or 307 = 677 or 539
Points this task: 25
Books read: 2
Golden oldie: 1 – The Heart is a Lonely Hunter was first published in 1940
Big book: No
Total points: 190
Tasks completed: 12
Golden oldies: 3
Big Book tickets: 0
Dlmrose
25.6 - Cordelia's Task: 2019
option 1, first published 2019: This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar
I read the kindle edition.
option 4, HOUSE found in tHOUSand ninEteen: The Dead House by Harry Bingham
total = 595
25.6 - Cordelia's Task: 2019
option 1, first published 2019: This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar
I read the kindle edition.
option 4, HOUSE found in tHOUSand ninEteen: The Dead House by Harry Bingham
total = 595
Dlmrose
Task 25.9 Diana K's Task: 2020 Number Fun.
Option 1, LALA in author: The Other Americans by Laila Lalami
Option 4, glasses cover:
Conversations with RBG: Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Life, Love, Liberty, and Law by Jeffrey Rosen
total = 620
Task 25.9 Diana K's Task: 2020 Number Fun.
Option 1, LALA in author: The Other Americans by Laila Lalami
Option 4, glasses cover:

total = 620
Dlmrose
25.13 - Rina's Task: Christmas Markets
Trento Christmas Market, Italy - Trento, Italy
Book 1, TRENTO: This Thing of Darkness by Harry Bingham 503 pages
Book 2, Italy: A Noble Radiance by Donna Leon, 277
503 + 277 = 780
total = 645
25.13 - Rina's Task: Christmas Markets
Trento Christmas Market, Italy - Trento, Italy
Book 1, TRENTO: This Thing of Darkness by Harry Bingham 503 pages
Book 2, Italy: A Noble Radiance by Donna Leon, 277
503 + 277 = 780
total = 645

Option 3: The Glass Key - The Redeemer by Jo Nesbø
Nesbo was born in Norway. This book has 512 pages. I'd like a BB ticket.
Option 5: The Gumshoe Award - The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson
Book is on page 3 of the list.
Post Total: 25
Grand Total: 250
Dlmrose
30.6 - Aprilleigh’s Task: The World of Xanth
Book 1, option 2, Pg 1: Stuff and Nonsense by Andrew Seiple, 240 pages
I read the kindle edition.
Book 2, option 1, by Piers Anthony: The Source Of Magic by Piers Anthony, 326 pages
240 + 326 = 566
total = 675
30.6 - Aprilleigh’s Task: The World of Xanth
Book 1, option 2, Pg 1: Stuff and Nonsense by Andrew Seiple, 240 pages
I read the kindle edition.
Book 2, option 1, by Piers Anthony: The Source Of Magic by Piers Anthony, 326 pages
240 + 326 = 566
total = 675

A book first published in a year that contains double consecutive digits: Forbidden Falls by Robyn Carr, first published 2009
Points this post: 10
Total points: 380

25.1 - Andy P.’s Task: Learning the Alphabet
Book 1. Read a book which does NOT contain an M or an N in the title or subtitle.
The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski
Book 2. Option 2: Read a book whose TITLE contains the letters LO in sequence. Subtitles are excluded.
Lord Perfect by Loretta Chase
Points this post: 25
Total points: 380

25.5 - Kaora's Task: All Work and Some Play...
Option 2: New Orleans, LA
Read a book that is the second in a series. The series designation (series name #2) must appear on the book's main Goodreads page.
The Fated Sky by Mary Robinette Kowal
This book is #2 in the Lady Astronaut series.
Option 3: Chicago, IL
Read a book with some sort of boat on the cover.

Points this post: 25
Total points: 405

10.9 - Winter's in the Air - won or nominated for a literary award that begins with one of the letters found in WINTER
I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh I Let You Go
Won the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year (2016)
Points this post: 10
Total Points: 435

20.9 - Moderator's Pet - Sarah Ruth's Task: Can You Keep A Secret?
Option 2: Read a book with the mpg of Technology, standalone or embedded.
The Revenge of Analog: Real Things and Why They Matter
Points this task: 20
-------------------------------------------------------------
Totals:

Big Books - 500+: 0
Big Books - 750+: 0
Golden Oldies: 1
Tasks completed: 12
Books read: 13

Book 1: I read The Book of Essie
Book 2, option 2: I read The Truth About Love and Lightning. (LO in "love").
Points this task: 25
Total points: 115
Number of tasks complete: 5
Number of books: 8

30.7 - Tien's task: Sesame Street 50th
Option 1:
Read a book first published in 1969 to 2019 inclusive.
The Chain by Adrian McKinty
Published July 9th, 2019.
Option 3:
Read a book written by a single author whose first or last name matches a human Sesame Street character's name.
The East End by Jason Allen
Jason Allen Author's first name matches character Jason (Jason Kingsley).
Points this post: 30
Total points to date: 235

Task #15.3 - Spin the Wheel
I chose option two, to read one book that fits both criteria, as follows, and I read Midnight's Furies: The Deadly Legacy of India's Partition by Nisid Hajari.
Read a book with ALL the letters R, S, T, L, N and E in the title, subtitle and/or author's name. RTN in partition, S in India's, LE in deadly.
Read a book with ALL the Most Frequently Chosen Letters C, D, M and A in the title, subtitle and/or author's name. CA in legacy, DM in midnight's.
Total points so far: 340

25.14 - Cat's Task: Celebrating Trafalgar Square
Option 2: Read one book that meets the requirements of 2 options. The book must be at least 500 pages
A - Christian holiday - Read a book by an author whose first and last name initials are found in CHARITY CAROLS
B - Jewish holiday - Read a book from the list Jewish Fiction and Literature
Read Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein 528 pages and found on page 5 of the list.
Point this post: 25
Total points: 220
Golden Oldies: 2
Big Book: 5
Total tasks: 13
Read

Task 25.7 - Nick KY’s Task: Double Duty – Pulitzer Prizes.
Book 1: Middlegame, finished 1/11
How it fits: 'dd' in title
Book 2: The Borrower, finished 1/14
How it fits: From #1, Fiction, 1948 to the present.. finalist Rebecca Makkai for The Great Believers (2019)
Points this task: 25
Total points: 505

25.4 - Sally M's Task: I’d Like to Thank…
The total number of pages for both books combined must be at least 600.
Option 1: The Academy, er, SRC!
Read a book written by a single author whose initials can be found in SPREADSHEET TRACKER.
All The Rage 416 pages
Option 3: Audible Escape and Scribd
Read a book you borrowed from a friend, the library or a subscription service, such as Audible Escape, Kindle Unlimited, LibriVox, OverDrive/Libby, Scribd, Spotify, or Storytel.
Beyond the Sea 304 pages
Borrowed from my local library which is Part of Leeds Libraries this is a link to their catalogue https://leeds.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/c...
Page count = 416 +304 = 720 exceeds requirement
points this post = 25
Points to date = 835

Help Thread
Read a popular book (over 10,000 ratings) that has never won or been nominated for a literary award (according to Goodreads). The book's main page should NOT include a section titled Literary Awards in the book's metadata (the section below the book description). Books first published in 2018, 2019, or 2020 are excluded since their award season is still in play. Ex: Since We Fell, Hardcore Twenty-Four, Secondborn
I read Calico Joe. It has over 37,000 ratings and has no literary awards in its metadata.
Points: 205
books read: 15
tasks completed: 13
Big books: 4
pages read: 5724

Challenge 25.9 Diana K's Task: 2020 Number Fun.
Option 3: I.D. by Vicki Grant.
Option 4:

Points this post: 25
Total points: 640
Tasks completed: 37/64
Books read: 52

Dispatches from the Edge: A Memoir of War, Disasters, and Survival
Total: 20
Total/challenge: 235

Option 2: Read a book by an author who shares a first or last name with the name of a book award or with the person that an award was named for. The name must match exactly.
My Notorious Life by Kate Manning
Award used: Kate Greenaway Medal - pg 11 of list
Total: 20
Total/challenge: 255

Opt 2 - title of 5 words that contain a first and last name
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Published 1892. Claiming Golden Oldie ticket
Total: 20
Total/challenge: 275
Golden Oldie: 1

30.1 - Ava Catherine’s Task: Celebrating Louise Erdrich
Option 1: Read a book with mpg historical fiction, mpg sociology, or mpg race (or racism).
Why Women Have Better Sex Under Socialism: And Other Arguments for Economic Independence
MPG Sociology
Option 3: Read a book by a single author whose first and last name initials can be found in BIRCHBARK.
Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise by Ruth Reichl
Initials RR appear in biRchbaRk
Points Earned This Post: 30
Total Points Earned: 260
Golden Oldie Tickets: 1
Big Book Tickets Total: 0
Big Books Read By Page Count: 0 (500) / 0 (750) / 0 (1000)

Opt 2 Book 1 - set in space
The Forever War - 278 pgs
Approved post #14
Book 2 - "Nothing" in title
Nothing Daunted: The Unexpected Education of Two Society Girls in the West - 304 pgs
278+304=582
Total: 25
Total/challenge: 300
Golden Oldie: 1

Bk 1 - E, I, E, I, O (2 Es, 2Is) in the title, subtitle, and/or author's name.
Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding
2 E's in bridgEt and jonE's
2 I's in brIdget and dIary
O' in jOnes
Bk 2 Opt1 - animal on list - hummingbird
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane
Total: 30
Total/challenge: 330
Golden Oldie: 1

10.2 – Comfort Food
Read a book with a MPG of food and drink.
Save Me the Plums: My Gourmet Memoir by Ruth Reichl
Points this post: 10
Total points: 10/1165
Tasks completed: 1/64
Books read: 1

10.3 – Let It Snow
Read a book with a title of 3+ words where each initial letter can be found in WINTER WONDERLAND.
One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid
winTer wOnderLd
Points this post: 10
Total points: 20/1165
Tasks completed: 2/64
Books read: 2

10.5 – Countdown to New Year’s
Read a book in which the digits in the page count decrease sequentially.
Don't You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane
432 pages
Points this post: 10
Total points: 30/1165
Tasks completed: 3/64
Books read: 3

10.6 – Fresh Start
Read a book that is #1 in a series.
Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand
#1 in th Paradise series
Points this post: 10
Total points: 40/1165
Tasks completed: 4/64
Books read: 4

10.10 – Overlooked?
Read a book with over 10,000 ratings that has never won or been nominated for a literary award according to Goodreads.
Wrong Number, Right Guy by Elle Casey
Points this post: 10
Total points: 50/1165
Tasks completed: 5/64
Books read: 5

15.7 – Stand Alone
Read a book that is a standalone, not part of a series.
Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell
Points this post: 15
Total points: 65/1165
Tasks completed: 6/64
Books read: 6

15.10 – Get ‘Em While They’re Hot
Read a book first published in 2019 or 2020.
Unfollow: A Memoir of Loving and Leaving the Westboro Baptist Church by Megan Phelps-Roper
First published in 2019
Points this post: 15
Total points: 80/1165
Tasks completed: 7/64
Books read: 7

20.1 – Beating the Winter Blues
Option 3: Read a book from any GR listopia that has “beach” or “summer” in its name
My Favorite Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren
Found on page 3 of chick lit for the beach listopia (https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/5...)
Points this post: 20
Total points: 100/1165
Tasks completed: 8/64
Books read: 8

20.4 – Everything Old Is New Again, and Again and Again
Read a book from the “Mythologies and Retellings…” listopia.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (IL: MG - BL: 6.3 - AR Pts: 13.0)
Found on page 1
Points this post: 20
Total points: 120/1165
Tasks completed: 9/64
Books read: 9

20.8 – Title Tropes
Option 1: Read a book with a MPG of mystery or thriller and the word “girl,” “woman” or “wife” in the title.
My Husband's Wife by Jane Corry
MPG of thriller
Points this post: 20
Total points: 140/1165
Tasks completed: 10/64
Books read: 10

25.4 – The Long and Short of It
Option 1: Read a book by a single author whose complete initials can be found in SPREADSHEET TRACKER.
Good Luck with That by Kristan Higgins – 480 pages
Option 3: Read a book that is borrowed from a friend, the library, or a subscription service.
Home for Christmas by Holly Chamberlin – 256 pages
Borrowed from the library
480 + 256 = 736 pages
Points this post: 25
Total points: 165/1165
Tasks completed: 11/64
Books read: 12

5.6. Have You Heard the One About..........? Read a book whose author's initials appear consecutively in the name of the award: Montblanc-National University of Singapore Literary Award.
Truth in the Dark by Amy Lane
I read the ebook. Paperback version: Truth in the Dark
Points this task: 5
Total points to date: 195
Golden Oldies: 0
Big Books: 0
Tasks complete: 13
Books read: 17

25.10 – Rewards of Awards
Option 1: Read a book found on the “Popular Book Club Books” listopia.
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett – 337 pages
Found on pg. 25
Option 4: Read a book found on one of the celebrity book lists.
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid – 320 pages
Found on Reese Witherspoon’s list
337 + 320 = 657 pages
Points this post: 25
Total points: 190/1165
Tasks completed: 12/64
Books read: 14

25.11 – Rescue Me
Option 1: Read a book found on the “Great Dog Books” listopia.
Watchers by Dean Koontz – 624 pages
Found on pg. 1 **Claiming 1 Big Book Ticket**
Option 3: Read a book by an author whose first and last initials can be found in RESCUE DOGS.
Christmas from the Heart by Sheila Roberts – 304 pages
624 + 304 = 928 pages
Points this post: 25
Total points: 215/1165
Tasks completed: 13/64
Books read: 16
Big Book Tickets: 1

25.14 – Celebrating Trafalgar Square
Option A: Read a book by an author whose first and last name initials can be found in CHARITY CAROLS.
It's Not You It's Him by Sophie Ranald – 390 pages
Option C: Read a book with a title of 3+ words where the beginning letter of each word is found in SEASONAL WARMTH.
East of Hounslow by Khurrum Rahman – 382 pages
390 + 382 = 772 pages
Points this post: 25
Total points: 240/1165
Tasks completed: 14/64
Books read: 18
Big Book Tickets: 1

30.1 – Celebrating Louise Erdich
Option 1: Read a book with a MPG of historical fiction.
The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
Option 3: Read a book by an author whose first and last name initials can be found in BIRCHBARK.
Christmas with a Cowboy by Carolyn Brown
Points this post: 30
Total points: 270/1165
Tasks completed: 15/64
Books read: 20
Big Book Tickets: 1

30.3 – Get Hooked on Yarn
Option 3: Read a book with a 4+ letter word in its title that can be made from the letters in STEP BACK FROM THE YARN.
Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Y. Dennis-Benn
Word is ‘COMES’
Option 5: Read a book with a MPG of health or mental health.
The Neuroscientist Who Lost Her Mind: My Tale of Madness and Recovery by Barbara K. Lipska
MPG of Health>Mental Health
Points this post: 30
Total points: 300/1165
Tasks completed: 16/64
Books read: 22
Big Book Tickets: 1

25.6 - Cordelia's Task: 2019
This is a 2 book task. Choose 2 different options from the following and read one book from each.
Required: State in your post which options you chose.
Option 3: Read a book where the author's initials can be found in TWO THOUSAND AND NINETEEN.
The Parking Lot Attendant by Nafkote Tamirat - 240 pages
Option 4: Read a book with a word of 4 or more letters in the title/subtitle which can be found in TWO THOUSAND AND NINETEEN.
All the letters in the word must appear in the phrase. Letters may only be used as often as they appear. Required: State the word you used when you post.
Mostly Dead Things by Kristen Arnett (Dead) - 354 pages
Points for this task: 25
Point total to date: 240

15.7 Stand Alone I read House Made of Dawn by N. Scott Momaday, a stand alone book.
Points This Post: 15
Total Points So Far: 365
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Task 25.3 - TraceyL's Task: Crime Writers Awards
Option 2: The Gold Dagger
Book:
How it fits: sword on cover
Option 4: Option 4: The Whodunit Award
Book: Do You Mind If I Cancel?, finished 1/11
How it fits: ? in title
Points this task: 25
Total points: 480